Counting to 20 helps early learners connect number words, written numbers, and real groups of objects. Teen numbers are especially important because they show a full group of 10 plus extra ones. Ten-frames make this idea easy to see because each frame holds exactly 10 dots.
When children point and count one by one, they learn that each object gets one number and the last number tells how many there are.
Key Facts
- A ten-frame has 10 spaces.
- Teen numbers are 10 and some more.
- 11 = 10 + 1
- 15 = 10 + 5
- 20 = 10 + 10
- When counting objects, say one number for each object and do not skip any.
Vocabulary
- Ten-frame
- A ten-frame is a box with 10 spaces used to show numbers as groups of dots.
- Teen number
- A teen number is a number from 11 to 19 that can be made from 10 and some more ones.
- Ones
- Ones are single objects or dots counted one at a time.
- Count on
- To count on means to start from a known number and keep counting forward.
- Total
- The total is how many objects there are altogether.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Skipping a number while counting objects is wrong because each object needs exactly one number word.
- Counting the same dot twice is wrong because it makes the total too large.
- Saying 13 as 10 + 4 is wrong because 10 + 4 makes 14, not 13.
- Leaving spaces in the first ten-frame before starting the second is confusing because a full ten-frame should show the complete group of 10 first.
Practice Questions
- 1 A full ten-frame has 10 dots and the second ten-frame has 6 dots. How many dots are there altogether?
- 2 Draw two ten-frames to show 18. How many dots go in the first ten-frame and how many go in the second ten-frame?
- 3 Mia says 17 is 7 and some more 10. Explain a clearer way to say and show 17 using ten-frames.